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NBC to Lengthen 'Today'
As Daytime Shows Falter

NBC News today plans to announce that it will stretch its "Today" show to four hours from three, a move to boost profits that could also risk diluting one of television's most profitable franchises.

In connection with the expansion, NBC will cancel its struggling afternoon soap opera "Passions," according to people familiar with the matter, although the drama could continue online. Under contracts with its local affiliated stations, NBC can only expand "Today" to a fourth hour by swapping an hour...